End lock binder



July 1l, 1950 s, SEGAL 2,514,727

END LOCK BINDER" Filed Jan. 11, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 1 mm/TW 37-1 36 35 5 n ATTORNEY s. SEGAL END LOCK BINDER July l1, 1950 INVEN R ATTORNEY Patented July 11, y195() END LOCK BINDER y Samuel Segal, New York, N.' Y., assignor to` Wil.- son-Jones Co., Chicago, Illl.V a corporation of;V

Massachusetts Application January 11, 1946,A Serial No.7640,494

6' Claims; (Cl. 12912')` 1 The invention deals with loose leaf binders wherein a pair of spaced covers are hingedly carried'by a pair ofA spaced, relatively rugged and durable sheet metal and attened tubes. In actual. practice the lower tube generally carries spaced posts adapted to removably project through guide openings in the upper tube'. To retain the upper tube against disengagement from the spaced posts an end lock is provided. This end' lock is controlled by an actuating spindle havingta polygonal terminal adapted to be operated' by aremovable key. receivable in an end cap appropriately fastened to.' the upper bar; How'- ever to properly' maintain the spindle in alinement' with the bearing' for the key in theend. cap; al stabilizing member was employed'. This stabilizing member, hitherto was secured or ancllored to and. Within the upper tube by indenting the latter to provide appropriate rib means to interlock with a cooperating groove in the stabilizingmember, or the latter was anchored to the upper tube by brazing or welding. In any case special tools and equipment were required. For example a bookbinder who purchases tubes of the type above alluded to for custom jobs gen-'- erally obtains the flattened tubes in predeterminedVv lengths and subsequently cuts down the tubes to his special requirements. When cut down to such special requirements the bookbinder had appreciable difficulty in the matter of appropriately fastening the stabilizer in the upper tube. In many instances he was Without the proper' equipment or lacked the skill required to modify' the tubes for assembly with the stabilizer; The dominant object of the invention resides in the provision of an end lock in a loose leaf binder whereinv the stabilizer may be quickly mounted on the spindle without requiring special skill. Another important object resides in the provision oan end lock of the character alluded to Wherei inthe stabilizer is independent of anchorage to its companion tube by crimping or ind'enting the latter, and is independent of brazing or welding operations... thus eliminating the use of special equipment. The invention has as a further object to'facilitate the Work on' the part of the bookblnder in the matter of assembling the end lock in the upper tube. A further yand important obiect is realized in the elimination of themany typesl of end caps or closures for thev tubes and makes possible the utilization of a standard end cap having a predetermined located bearing. Other objects arel concerned with the reduction in the-cost of manufacture of the stabilizer and intic assembly of the latter. Further'objects;

features and functional and structural advani tagesof theinvention will appear from the following detailed specication considered in the light of the accompanying drawingswherei'ri:

Fig. 1 illustratesin perspective a fragmentary View ofy the loose leaf binder.

Fig. 2 al horizontal sectional View on'vthe line- 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 41, 5*and Gare -transversesectional views on the lines 3--3`; 4?-47 5'f-5; and 6--6 of Fig; 2. FiFi; 6* isfan enlarged' fragmentary viewv of Fig'. 7" arienlarged fragmentary viev'o Fig. 2.

Fig; 8 is a. longitudinal sectional! View onthe line Bes-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 isA a fragmentaryview` substantially simi'lar Lto` Fig. 2 but' illustratingv another form of stabilizer.

Fig; 10- is a transverse sectional viewon the line lBL-lll-"of1 Fig. 91' f Fig'. 1'-1 l is aviewvsimi-larto Fig. `9showing the stabilizer' cooperating wi-tlry the externallyr threaded cylindrical actuating rod, and

Fig; lzis'a-view similar to Fig. 2 however illus trating the spring clip or stabilizer cooperating with' a smoothy cylindrical portion of the exterf n-a'lly` tl'lreadedv actuating rod.

The loose rleaf binder L- is utilizedf to" securely hold'l a sta-ck ofpapersS between apair of covers lll and 'fr hingedly carried'by'the-support or base l2" andthe follower I3' eachy of which is in the form off a iiattened tube of relatively durable sheet metal. i

Appropriately securedin any wel-l known mam` ner to the base l2 are' thel spaced upstand'ing posts I4' on which are threaded superimposed sheets' ofthe stack'S which is clampedl against th'ebase |12 bythe-follower; I t.

Specifically"'the'upper` and lower' flat walls` of the follower tube i3- are' provided withl alined openings lf5fffor removably'receiving spaced posts I4'. To preclude removal of the-follower i3'from the' spacedi posts Mi an' end lock generally denoted |'6 is' utilized and comprises the ysecondary and primary clamping components I1 and l`8` consne'cted to` the squared shaped partlyjexteriorly threaded' spindle or actuating rod le: The sec# ondary clamping component I'lis in the formof an elongated bar of substantially uniform thickness` and is-providedV with a pair of downwardly turned lugs 20 and with a pair' of upward-ly turned lugs 2|'. These lugs cooperate with the lower andI upper walls ofthe follower to-po itin Welded to and straddling one end of secondary clamping component are the legs 22 of bearing 23 in which a reduced and cylindrical portion 24 of the square shaped spindle I9 is journalled or rotatably disposed. By reducing the spindle, spaced shoulders 25 are formed and these closely but rotatably straddle bearing 23 to preclude accidental disengagement of the spindle from the secondary clamping component I1.

'I'he primary clamping component I8 may be said to be a carriage or shoe having the spaced internally threaded bearings 26 engaging the rotatable and threaded spindle I9. Consequently if the latter be rotated relative to the bearing 23 of the secondary clamping component I1, the primary clamping component I8 is displaced along spindle or actuating rod I9. Component I8 includes an upturned arcuate lip 21 and the latter together with the curved bearings 25 arel slidably guided by the arcuate sides of the follower I3.

Mounted on the smooth part 28 of thesquare shaped spindle I9 are the spaced arms 29 of the U-shaped spring clip or stabilizer 3l) having its curved or closed end 3I disposed within an adjacent curved side of the follower I3. The terminals 32 of the spaced and resilient arms 29 of the spring clip 30 are biased, that is diverge away from each other and the circular walls of openings 33 in each of the biased terminals 39 cooperate with the apices or corners 34 of the smooth portion 28 of the spindle I9 to firmly wedge against these corners or apices. Normally the arms 29 are widely diverged due to their own resiliency. In mounting the arms 29 on the polygonal or squared shaped end 28 of vthe spindle I9, the diverged terminals 32 are pressed towards one another tondispose their circular openings 33 in alinement to receive end 23. Thereafter while the terminals are still pressed towards one another, the arms 29 may be slid along the end 28 to a desired position after whichv finger pressure is removed-from the arms 29. The latter now automatically spring apart to frictionally and wedgeably engage the apices or corner portions 34 whereby the spring stabilizer minals 32 toward each other. This releases their grip or clamping action on the spindle. Hence the stabilizer may be shifted along the spindle to a desired location after which finger pressure is removed from the biased terminals and the arms 29 again release or spring outwardly autoasmfrev l... t

to the foiiwer I3. In fact both ends of the foi-v lower I3 and the base or tube I2 are each provided with a cap or closure as 31 but only the cap adjacent outer free terminal 35 of the spindle includes a bearing 36 for removably receiving key or socket K adapted to receive and actuate terminal 35 of the spindle I9 to rotate the latter.

The external contour `of the spaced arms 29 of the spring clip or stabilizer 39 conforms substantially to the cross sectional shape of the bore of the follower I3, thus preventing accidental vertical and transverse displacement of the spring clip relative to the follower. v As shown in Fig. 2-, the follower I3 may be considered as locked or. frictionally clamped against the spaced posts I4 in that the wall of notch 38 of the primary clamping component I8 frictionally bears against and is interlocked with one of the posts I4 while the stabilizer end 39 of the matically thus causing the biased terminals 32 again to frctionally bind or wedge against the apices or corners 34. Prior to mounting the end lock I6 in the follower I3 the spring clip or. stabilizer 30 may be removed from the spindle. This is accomplished by rst manually releasing the grip of terminals 32 and thereaftermanually shifting the stabilizer to be free of the smooth end 28.

With the stabilizer 30 receiving end 28 of the spindle and properly disposed in the tube I3, the outer terminal 35 of the spindle I9 is held in alinement with the opening orbearing 36 (Fig. 2) in an adjacentl end c ap'or'closure 31-fastened secondary clamping component I1 is abutting and bearing against the other post I4. Thus the follower I3 is prevented from accidental removal from the posts I4. However to allow such refmoval, the primary and secondary complements I3 and I1 are unclamped from these posts.' v This is accomplished by placing the key K in the bearing 36 and onto the terminal 35 of the spindle I9. Now by rotating the key in one direction, the spindle or actuating rod I4 is rotated, thus causing the rectilinear end 39 of the secondary clamping component I1 to retract from its ad-` jacent post Id. VThus the overall linear distance between the end 39 and the notched end 38 is decreased, hence relieving the clamping pressure of theseends on `the spaced posts I4. OrA in other. words, the primary and secondary components are unlocked from the posts I4. Consequently the follower I3 may be slidably removed yfrom the posts I 4. Hence access is had to the stackI S to alter or replace the latter. ,j f

Subsequently the follower is again mounted on the spaced posts III and dropped against the stack S. Thereafter the follower is lockedto the posts by rotating spindle I9 with ythe' aid Aofthekey K. By such action, the Vprimary cofmponent I8 and more particularly the wall of notch 38 rst reaches and abuts its adjacent post I4'. Thereafter on further rotation of the spindlein the same direction, the secondary component I 1` draws away fromy the primary component I8 and ultimately itsv rectilinear end 39 reaches. and abuts its adjacent post I4. On furtherrotation of the spindle in the same direction, theouter ends 33 and 39 of the primary and secondary components I8 and I1 firmly bind and clamp against the posts, thus desiraibly disengageably locking the follower I3 to the posts. L

On rotating the key in a counter direction, the primary and secondary components I8 andv IIl are disengagedfrom the spaced posts I4. Howfever, a pin M3 (Fig. 8) fastened to the upper and lower walls of the follower tube I3 and inter-A posed between the primary and secondary com-y ponents serves as stop means to limit thedis,-, placement of the end lock I9 in the follower `I3 In the embodiment according to Figs.v 9 and l0, the stabilizer isin the form of a plate or bar E9 having an external contour substantially conforming tothe internal cross sectional contour of the hollow follower I3 although slidably guided therein. v This plate includes the interr-v nally threaded opening 5I interlocking with the teeth 3d on the corners of the square shapedacv tuating spindle or rod I9. The stabilizing` plate 15 or bar 50 always holds the spindle I9 in aline?A inent with the bearing or opening 35. The square shaped terminal 35 removably ts into the key K which is projected through the bearing 36. Hence the spindle may be adjusted to clamp or unclamp the primary and secondary components I8 and II against and from the spaced posts I4. In Fig. 11 the actuating spindle I9 is cylindrical and threadably engages with the internally threaded stabilizing bar or plate 50. In other aspects the embodiment according to Fig. 1l is substantially along the lines of the form shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 12 the actuating spindle I9 is of the type shown in Fig. l1 except it is provided with an externally smooth cylindrical portion 52 frictionally and removably engaged lby the biased and perforated ends or terminals 32 of the spaced arms 29 of the spring clip or stabilizer of the type illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6a. In all of the embodiments disclosed the stabilizer maintains the square shaped terf minal of the spindle in alinement with the bearing 35 of a xed closure cap 3l.

In all of the forms disclosed the stabilizing means 39 or 50 may be said to be displaceable along the rotatable spindle and slidably guided by the interior walls of the follower or upper attened tube I3 and of course the stabilizer may be disengageably removed from the spindles. In Figs. 2 and 12 this may be carried out by moving the biased or diverged ends 32 of the resilient arms 29 towards each other, thus removing their wedging action and consequently the U-shaped spring clip or stabilizer may be disengaged or removed from the spindle. In Figs. 9 and 11 by rotating spindle I9 enough in one direction the stabilizing bar 50 may be detached from the spindle. In actual practice however, the bar 59 is positioned appreciaibly away from the squared terminal 35 to prevent accidental dislodgement from the spindle I9 as the latter is rotated to clamp or unclamp components Il and I8 from the binding posts I4` Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim: y

1. In a, tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced parts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, and a stabilizer within said follower and having spaced resilient arms having biased and perforated ends for receiving said spindle for sustaining said terminal in alinement with said bearing.

2. In a, tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced posts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, and

a substantially U-shaped spring clip within said follower and having spaced resilient perforated arms surrounding and engaging at least a part of said spindle for sustaining said terminal in alinement with said bearing.

3. In a tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced posts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, said spindle having a polygonal portion defining apices, and a spring clip within said follower and having spaced arms including biased perforated endsl surrounding said spindle and frictionally engaging said apices for sustaining said terminal in alinement with said bearing.

4. In a tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced posts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, said spindle having an externally smooth portion, and a spring clip within said follower and having spaced arms including biased perforated ends surrounding said spindle and frictionally engaging said smooth portion for sustaining said terminal in alinement with said bearing.

5. In a tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced posts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of Said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, said spindle having a cross sectionally squared portion defining apices, and a stabilizer within said follower and having spaced resilient arms having diverging perforated ends surrounding said spindle and frictionally engaging Said apices for sustaining said terminal in alinement with said bearing.

6. In a tubular follower for a loose leaf binder wherein spaced posts are removably clamped by slidably guided components within said follower, an externally threaded spindle within and disposed longitudinally of said follower and operatively interconnecting said components and having a non-circular terminal, a closure cap carried by said follower and having a bearing, said spindle having an externally relatively smooth cylindrical portion, and a spring clip within said follower and having spaced arms including diverging perforated ends surrounding said spindle and frictionally engaging said portion for sustaining said terminal in alinment with said bearing.

SAMUEL ,SEGAL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 809,314 Lumley Jan. 9, 1908 1,308,325 Bird July 1l, 1919 1,614,080 Newman Jan. 11, 1927 2,279,503 Koelling Apr. 14, 1942 

